Wikipedia defines censorship as “the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the government or media organizations as determined by a censor. Furthermore, Wikipedia lists five types of censorship:
- MORAL
- POLITICAL
- MILITARY
- RELIGIOUS
- CORPORATE
Regardless of the type of governing body, most leaders feel the responsibility to protect the people they oversee. However, many issues arise when the people are over-censored. There are definite lines between the rights of free speech and the abuse of censorship. Many censorship issues have come about in literature as people have written about their concerns with society and more specifically with their government. Oftentimes, satirical novels are misunderstood especially when the author is before his or her time. A great example is the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which helped to successfully humanize African Americans. The book left such an impact that Abraham Lincoln was later quoted when meeting Stowe saying, “Here is the woman who started this great war (Civil War).” Stowe was very successful in pointing out a major social injustice that led those who opposed her to ban her novel. In so many cases, authors have pointed out the injustice of the government, church, or corporations only to find their book has made it onto their banned list. Although certain novels may have been misunderstood by some, it oftentimes does not impact their influence. Here are 25 of the most influential and misunderstood authors:
1. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland
Author:
Lewis Carroll
Why it got banned:
In China, Alice’s Adventures is Wonderland was banned due to its portrayal of anthropomorphized animals acting on the same level as humans. This may come as huge surprise to some that would have thought it was the fact that Alice was in Wonderland.
2. Black Beauty
Author:
Anna Sewell
Why it got banned:
South Africa banned the book because of the use of the word “black” in the title.
3. Brave New World
Author:
Aldous Huxley
Why it got banned:
Many people were offended by Huxley’s presentation of society as a place of human misery, oppression, disease, and overcrowding. Furthermore, Huxley depicted adults dulling their senses with sex and drugs. Although it was meant to be purely satirical, many people criticized the book as though Huxley was portraying the wrong values.
4. Bridge to Terabithia
Author:
Katherine Paterson
Why it got banned:
Although Bridge to Terabithia explores many positive values including friendship and the value of life, it also takes a look at death. As a result, the book has been banned due to its “scenes of witchcraft” and offensive language. Other reasons this book has been banned have been due to themes of both rebellion and anti-religious sentiments.
5. Catch-22
Author:
Joseph Heller
Why it got banned:
Surprisingly Catch-22 has never been banned to its anti-war sentiments. Rather Catch-22 has been frowned upon due to its treatment of women. Its continuous usage of the word “whore” have left some to say that it promotes the hatred of women.
6. Fight Club
Author:
Chuck Palahniuk
Why it got banned:
The extensive violence left little concern for most with the book Fight Club, rather the Chinese banned the book in 1999 for giving instructions on how to make various explosive devices.
7. Gulliver’s Travels
Author:
Jonathan Swift
Why it got banned:
Gulliver’s Travels was banned in numerous countries due to the underlying themes of political corruption, anti-war sentiments, and the injustices of colonization. Leaving the author no choice but to publish the novel anonymously.
8. James And The Giant Peach
Author:
Roald Dahl
Why it got banned:
This book depicts a child who lives under the oppression of mean caretakers and relies on his creativity and an alternate world in order to survive. Those opposed to the book dislike the violence, language, and disobedience towards adults.
9. Lord of the Flies
Author:
William Golding
Why it got banned:
Opposition to this book are largely due to the “rape” scene and the idea that humans are savage. The book itself depicts society played out on an island of young boys trying to survive. It further conveys that human nature can cause individuals to do things they might not imagine, as they struggle between good and evil, as they are forced with survival.
10. Of Mice And Men
Author:
John Steinbeck
Why it got banned:
This book gets challenged mostly due to the unusual friendship between two men, one whom is developmentally challenged. As well as the popular issues of language, racial implications, and violence.
11. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Author:
Ken Kessey
Why it got banned:
Opposition to this novel state that this book is complete “garbage.” Furthermore, those opposed have claimed the book glorifies torture, obscene language, bestiality, and secular humanism.
12. Rights of Man
Author:
Thomas Paine
Why it got banned:
This book was banned in the UK and author charged with treason for supporting the French Revolution. It was later banned in Tsarist Russia after the Decembrist revolt.
13. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Author:
Mark Twain
Why it got banned:
Although Twain wrote the book to challenge racism, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was banned for racial slurs. This famous novel highlights the friendship between a white boy and a black man.
14. The Call of the Wild
Author:
Jack London
Why it got banned:
Jack London was censored by several European dictatorships for his socialist views. His book was banned in Yugoslavia and Italy for being too radical. However most people believed the banning was more due to the author himself, rather than the book.
15. The Catcher in the Rye
Author:
JD Salinger
Why it got banned:
Frequently a target of censorship, this classic coming-of-age story of a teenage boy in New York is often banned due to the language and sexuality–particularly a scene with a prostitute.
16. The Da Vinci Code
Author:
Dan Brown
Why it got banned:
The Da Vinci Code has been seriously opposed by the Catholic church, deeming it offensive to Christianity.
Although the novel is a work of fiction, many people have not taken very lightly the portrayal of Christ in a physical relationship with Mary Magdalene–even having children together.
17. The Diary of Anne Frank
Author:
Anne Frank
Why it got banned:
Surprising The Diary of Anne Frank has been banned for its portraying Jews favorably. Although today it is been taught in almost every school in America, it has still been opposed as being too sexually charged, pornographic, and too depressing to be taught.
18. The Giver
Author:
Lois Lowery
Why it got banned:
The award-winning book that depicts a society driven to maintain an amazing amount of control over its members, including euthanasia and suicide. Some parents have reacted strongly to these themes in the book and have taken the book as an endorsement for killing.
As frequently happens with challenged books, parents who complain about The Giver tend to miss the point. Then again, some just don’t like that main character Jonas feels “stirrings” when he sees a pretty girl.
19. The Grapes of Wrath
Author:
John Steinbeck
Why it got banned:
The Grapes of Wrath was banned all over the United States, however, it was primarily banned in California. Many feel this was led by wealthy landowners who did not want their poor treatment of their workers to become known.
20. The Great Gatsby
Author:
F Scott Fitzgerald
Why it got banned:
New wealth, old relationships, and a society trying to find itself are at the center of this novel. Opponents of this work cite profanity in the book as well as sexual references that could fill all modern ebooks.
21. The Lorax
Author:
Dr. Seuss
Why it got banned:
On the surface this book seems it should be included in the Protect the Children section, but the reason this Dr. Seuss book is banned has more to do with adult issues. The book is an allegorical story describing the effects of poor stewardship on the Earth. Those opposed to the book, specifically some in California, feel it shows an unfair portrayal of those in the logging industry.
22. The Wealth of Nations
Author:
Adam Smith
Why it got banned:
Banned in communist nations for its capitalist content.
23. To Kill A Mockingbird
Author:
Harper Lee
Why it got banned:
Racism, language, and a rape scene are the usual culprits when banning this book. In reality, Lee was highlighting the rampant racism of her time in this much beloved book in an attempt to change the wrongs she saw in society.
24. Ulysses
Author:
James Joyce
Why it got banned:
Challenged and temporarily banned in the US for its sexual content. Ban overturned in United States v. One Book Called Ulysses.
25. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Author:
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Why it got banned:
When this book was published in 1851, it was criticized by slavery supporters and described as a false depiction of slavery. The importance and relevance of this novel has survived the censorship it has experienced to allow current generations to learn from their ancestors’ mistakes.
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